Habakkuk the Prophet Prophets who speak on the behalf of God to the people of God. Prophets either foretell or forth-tell. As we study the book of Habakkuk, we will concern ourselves with Old Testament prophets. The Old Testament consist of 39 books, and those books can be sub-divided into the following categories:

 17 Historical books.  5 Poetical books.  17 Prophetical books. The first 17 books describe the history of the Hebrew people, the next 5 books give the poetry of the Hebrews, and the last 17 books provide the prophecies God gave concerning the Hebrew people. As we study the book of Habakkuk, we will find the prophets were classified as either major or minor; and the designation of major or minor prophet was solely assigned due the length of the book they wrote. There are 5 major books of prophesy, and 12 minor books of prophesy. The 5 major books of prophesy are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, and Daniel; and there are 12 minor books of prophesy Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Not only are Old Testament prophets classified as major or minor; but they are also classified as literary or oral prophets. Oral prophets spoke on the behalf of God, but they did not leave a book in the bible bearing their name; while literary prophets in addition to speaking for God left a book bearing their name. The oral prophets are: Nathan (2nd Samuel 12), Gad (2nd Samuel 24:11), and Ahijah (1st Kings 11:29). A study of biblical prophets would be incomplete without speaking of John the Baptist; because Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest prophet born of a woman. (Matthew 11:7-13). John the Baptist was an oral prophet, and his assignment was to prophesy the coming of Jesus. The ministry of John the Baptist marked the end of the law and prophesy. (Matthew 11:13). A survey of Habakkuk God commissioned Habakkuk to lead the Hebrew people during a time of trouble. The name Habakkuk means to embrace, and true to his name Habakkuk embraced God during this difficult time in Hebrew history. Habakkuk wrestled with his faith in the beginning, but he ultimately developed an intimacy with God. The prophet struggled with and asked why God would allow Judah to seemingly get away with their immoral and sinful ways. Initially God did not reply to Habakkuk’s questioning; however God gave Habakkuk a vision how he would remedy Judah’s sin issue. God used the Babylonians to correct Judah, and Habakkuk once again questioned God method. Habakkuk could not understand how God would use the evil Babylonians to correct the sins of Judah. Ultimately Habakkuk learns to wait on God, and to walk closer to God.

Lessons from Habakkuk 1. The just must live by faith 2. Although injustice exist to not allow your concern to turn into doubting God. 3. God works in mysterious ways. 4. God hears and answers prayer. 5. God’s answer to our prayer request may not align with our expectation. 6. Learn to rejoice in the Lord. 7. God is still in control of all things. 8. Evil is self-destructive. 9. Righteousness will ultimately prevail.

OUTLINE OF HABAKKUK I. Habakkuk’s first complaint. Why does God allow evil to go unpunished? (1:2-4) II. God’s answer. The Babylonians will punish Judah. (1:5-11) III. Habakkuk’s second complaint. How can God use Babylonians to correct Judah? (1:12, 2:1). IV. God’s answer. Babylon will be punished and Habakkuk’s faith will be rewarded. (2:2-20) V. Habakkuk’s prayer. A confession of faith. (3)

QUESTIONS CHAPTER 1 A. What was Habakkuk’s burden? V1 B. What was Habakkuk’s struggle? V2 C. Why did Habakkuk accuse God of being slack concerning the law? V4 D. What was God’s answer, and what work was God working? V5 E. Why would God allow the Babylonians to correct Judah? V6-11 F. What does Habakkuk say about the nature of God? V12-15